Roman Polanski breaks his silence on American extradition demands

LONDON - Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski has spoken about extradition demands by the US over a 33-year-old under-age sex case.

The 76-year-old Oscar winner said that America’s main purpose was to serve him “on a platter to the media.”

Polanski is under house arrest in his Swiss alpine chalet. He laid out his case against extradition on an online magazine run by one of his staunchest supporters, French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, reports The Daily Express.

“I have had my share of dramas and joys as we all have, and I am not going to try to ask you to pity my lot in life,” he wrote. “I ask only to be treated fairly like anyone else,” Polanski said.

He has claimed that the case charged against him is unjustified and full with problems. Each argument begins with the phrase: “I can remain silent no longer.”

Polanski also complains that Los Angeles County district attorney Steve Cooley, “who is handling this case and has requested the extradition, is himself campaigning for election and needs media publicity!”

Mr Cooley is running for the California attorney general post.

Sandi Gibbons, District attorney’s spokeswoman said the office “will withhold comment until the Swiss make a decision on his fugitive status.”

Swiss government is deciding whether to extradite Polanski to Los Angeles for having sex in 1977 with a 13-year-old girl or not.

Polanski was arrested seven months ago when he arrived in Zurich to receive a lifetime achievement award at a film festival. (ANI)